Allen came to a stop just beside Stella's bike.
"Good morning shortcake. Ohhh, I could hug you forever." He said as he hugged Stella and enjoyed her warmth.
Stella chuckled, "Don't let June hear you say that."
Allen said, a dorky grin on his face, "She agrees. This is a thing we both agree most strongly on."
Stella laughed as she freed herself from Allen's grasp, "A warm plushie."
Allen immediately took a step back and muttered, "Oh I'm sorry. Did I hurt you? Damn it! June keeps telling me to be careful."
Stella hurriedly shook her head. Her bushy hair looking like a nest from the ride, flapping from side to side, "It's not that. I'm fine. You did not use too much force."
Allen frowned, "What then?"
Stella rubbed her nose in embarrassment, "It's just.....even with all those layers, the sudden drop in temperature startled me."
Allen sighed, "One would think you would have gotten used to it by now."
"Yeah." Stella said in a small voice before changing the topic, "Anyway. Why did you decide to scare the hell out of me this morning?"
Allen's eyes immediately brightened. He opened his mouth to say something but suddenly closed it, pouting.
"What's wrong?" Stella found his behaviour weird.
"I'm not supposed to tell you. June wanted to do it herself." He said, still pouting.
Stella raised her eyebrows. She loved surprises, "Do what?"
Allen backed away waving his hands, "Nothing. Nothing. If I say one word more, June will kill me. We'll come by the cottage later. When will your shift end?"
Stella suppressed a smile. Even her soul mate was afraid of her, sounded just like June.
She said, "Today I think I'll be free around 3 or 4."
Allen smiled, able to take away the breath of any girl or woman on the planet. He hugged Stella in one swift motion and muttered, "Warm plushie."
Then Allen was gone even before Stella had time to react.
She sighed, started the bike and drove on.
Stella had gotten a job at a 24-hour fast food restaurant with the help of Simon, as soon as he was sure she was well enough. And after making her promise she would behave herself, of course.
Stella had gotten the job just for the sake of doing something. The pay was good too. She would have to move out of Den's cottage sooner or later, and she obviously could not go back to any place she'd stayed before.
With all these thoughts, Stella reached the restaurant and parked her bike. She jumped off and shook her head, pushing the hair out of her eyes.
Stella went in from the back door that was for the workers and greeted her colleagues.
"Hey guys!! Am I late?" Stella asked with her childlike smile.
A girl with short platinum blonde hair bounced towards Stella, "Hey Stella!!!! How are you!!! You know, you know, I aced my test yesterday!!! And you know..." Her voice trailed off.
This one was Lily. She was just a little older than Stella and was in college. She was a happy go lucky girl who loved studying and worked part time at the restaurant.
"What the hell are you so happy about so early in the morning!?!?!?" A gruff voice cut off Lily's rant in mid-sentence. Stella grinned. So Joe was in today's morning shift too.